Crispin Odey is suing FT for £79 million in defamation damages over sexual harassment allegations

Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey is seeking £79 million in damages from the Financial Times after suing the newspaper for libel, documents filed at the High Court show.

Odey began legal action against the FT in May over four articles published in 2023 containing allegations that he had sexually assaulted women.

The allegations led to him leaving his position days later at Odey Asset Management, the hedge fund he founded, although he has since returned. Five women are suing him for alleged misconduct between 1995 and 2023.

Odey has denied the allegations, telling the FT they were ‘nonsense’. The newspaper said in May that it would “vigorously defend” its reporting.

In documents seen by the PA news agency yesterday, Odey’s lawyers said he had suffered ‘very significant financial losses’ as a result of the articles but would ‘limit his claim to an amount of £79 million’.

The FT must submit its defense by the end of January, before a further hearing.

Claim: Crispin Odey (pictured) began legal action against the FT in May over four articles alleging he had sexually assaulted multiple women

DIY INVESTMENT PLATFORMS

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

A. J. Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

A. J. Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

Free fund trading and investment ideas

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund trading and investment ideas

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund trading and investment ideas

Invest for a fixed amount from € 4.99 per month

interactive investor

Invest for a fixed amount from € 4.99 per month

interactive investor

Invest for a fixed amount from € 4.99 per month

Get £200 back in trading fees

Sax

Get £200 back in trading fees

Sax

Get £200 back in trading fees

Free trading and no account fees

Trade 212

Free trading and no account fees

Trade 212

Free trading and no account fees

Affiliate links: If you purchase a product, This is Money may earn a commission. These deals have been chosen by our editors because we believe they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.

Compare the best investment account for you